Obituaries

December 3rd, 2017

Helen L. Rapposelli Panfile, 88, formerly of Boothwyn passed away on November 30^th at Springfield Hospital. Helen, a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother, was a homemaker, rearing six children with her devoted husband Frank.

As a couple, they worked tirelessly to improve the well-being of their family, while donating time, treasure and talent to their church and community.  Helen’s dedication was evident at an early age, when she left school to help manage her childhood home when her mother was blinded in an accident.  Later she and Frank remodeled their home, adding a bedroom when her mother needed it.

Helen supported the family financially taking jobs when extra money was needed. She also worked in her son John’s hair salon supporting his business.

Helen, Frank, and family moved three times. One of which was to a 25 acre farm. When looking at the property, the then owner, seeing the excited reaction of the children at the farm, decided that they would be the new owners; even lowering the selling price by 15% to facilitate the purchase.

Helen may have had second thoughts, when the farm duties, added to the demands of child rearing, including the challenges of catholic education, became reality.

That commitment to Catholic education was just one element of the faith practiced by Helen and Frank.

They took on the responsibility for continuing the legacy of church support, begun by her father who helped build Immaculate Conception as a mission church of St. Anthony parish 100 years ago. This parish became what daughter Linda called the ‘Family Cathedral’ as, with rare exception, the site of all family Baptisms, Confirmations, Marriages, etc.

Helen was an active member of the Parish of Women’s Club working on fund raisers, etc.

When she was not directly involved, she was ‘woman behind the man’ ‘keeping Home fires burning’ while her husband, through his Holy Name Society membership, was involved with building an elementary school, and raising funds to support the school and church.

As time went on, gaining an interest in the camping that some of their children’s families enjoyed, Helen and Frank added Four Seasons Campground to where they could be found. They rented a spot with the intent of having an affordable getaway place for family members, but true to their nature, soon became involved in helping the owners of the campground with various duties. Seemingly not enough of a challenge, they also joined the local Grange, where Helen drew from her experience as a dietician, providing recipes, and cooking methods to their food offerings.

Seeking a better and bigger family retreat location, they selected a site in Angola Beach. This became their retirement love nest, in which they had the best days of their lives together, until Frank’s passing in 1995.

Maybe as a way to fill the hole left by the death, Helen became involved with the Knights of Columbus’ Christopher Council where three of her sons are members. She quickly became a chief chef, and developed warm relationships with many of the members that she began referring to as ‘her boys’. She along with her son John started an annual “Italian Night” that became one of the council’s most successful activities.

Most of Helen’s eighty-eight years were spent with a husband that could not have been more dedicated, or more in love. Helen complimented and rounded out their relationship. She, being more fun-seeking and outspoken, and he, being more reserved and pensive. She was Aesop’s grasshopper; he was the ant.

Helen will be missed by many. May she rest in peace.

She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Panfile; sons, Francis and John Panfile; Granddaughter, Cathy Barrett(Fran); 9 Siblings .

She is survived by her children, Linda Moran-Kelley(Ray), Michael Panfile(Judy), Timothy Panfile(Darin), Joseph Panfile, Robert Panfile(Dee); Daughter-in-law, Christine Panfile; Grandchildren, Maria Moran (Derek), Michelle Ravert (Albert), Dina Shafer, Tia Murphy (Josh), Alexander Panfile, Amanda Ulmer (Marc), Jason Panfile; great-grandchildren, Marco DiMedio, Riley Barrett, Camille Barrett, Anne-Marie Ravert, AJ Ravert, Michelle-Nicole Shafer, Marissa Murphy, Alexa Murphy, Arieana Ortiz, Chase Ulmer, Cairo Ulmer, Cain Ulmer; great-great-grandchildren, Skylar Ravert, Piper Ravert, Ava Rose Horn

Her funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 7^th at 10am at Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Church in Marcus Hook.  Friends and family are invited to her viewing on Wednesday evening from 7-9pm and Thursday morning from 8:30am-9:30am at the Joseph A. Ward Funeral Home 1459 Market St. Linwood, Pa.  Burial will follow in Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery.